2016 World Championships Ladies Free Skate

[whatif]

Just looking at the ice coverage, you get a reliable sense of their speed, and it seems like the only one with the goods is Anna. Evgenia, especially, is jumping from a crawl and it's only due to her body shape that she can muscle through them so prettily. That kind of technique, we know, simply doesn't outwit puberty. We've seen it enough times.

Well, there is Tukt, Lip, and I expect Radio to show up in a better shape. So plenty to choose from. All girls go through puberty with downturn in their performance even the greatest regardless nationality

 

[miki88]

Yeah, Mao trumps them both, and Anna trumps Mao in terms of speed.

I did think Mao looked a bit tentative and lacked power I saw in her Rach performances. Could have affected the overall impression even though her actual speed and ice coverage was pretty decent.

 

[Yatagarasu]

I did think Mao looked a bit tentative and lacked power I saw in her Rach performances. Could have affected the overall impression even though her actual speed and ice coverage was pretty decent.

Remember, Mao fell and hit her head in the warm-up. There's no way this didn't affect her, though I think the off feeling I had with her skating, the tentativeness you mention, wore off for me as we went through the FP.

 

[NicoleH]

Oh my F gosh I know right they are so annoying! I am glad I didn't watch NBC just now. I rewatched Mao's FS and after she landed her 3A (yes it was 2 footed I even saw it in real time live) Tara immediately said "Judges need to review it", my mood totally went down. Same for 3F+3Lo, "need to be reviewed".

Tara is so experienced and so right. The 3A definitely needed to be reviewed and actually did get <. Same for 3F+3Lo<. Kudos for Tara. This is the commentator we need. :agree:

 

[zanadude]

After an interview on the Japanese broadcast, Medvedeva "sang" (more closely resembled "recited") the lyrics to the Sailor Moon theme song, and mentioned that she had watched the first four seasons of the anime.

 

[demarinis5]

I thought it was a great Ladies competition, great skating from the medalists and great
skating from the non medalists too. I wish there were more medals. I thoroughly enjoyed the
competition. I have some criticisms but I will keep them to myself.

Congrats to Med for her gold medal performance!

Congrats to Ashley for ending the US drought!

Congrats to Pogo for putting together two clean programs and winning the
Bronze medal after her up and down season, good for her!

For me Mao's FS was glorious and touched my heart!

 

[CCC]

Anna tried to make up for it after the Press Conference and gave Ashley a hug twice. It was a nice moment, that few got to see.

 

[LadyB]

What a finale to excellent Worlds. As a fan of the Russian girls, I'm over the moon Zhenija made it in the end. But I must admit, I had tears in my eyes when Ashley nailed her programme and, yes, she deserved the medal. Great achievement! I feel a bit sorry for Gracie, must be hard dropping off the podium when you were in the lead. Tbh, I thought after the SP that Ashley might have the edge in the end. Nothing against Gracie, but I just liked both of Ashley's programmes more this season.
Rika Hongo's Irish dancing was absolutely brilliant! Well done, all the girls. Looking forward to Gala!

 

[koatcue]

Really? Evgenia Medvedeva's ice coverage is, IMO, very bad and she has no speed whatsoever. She's one of those skaters who is not going to outwit puberty, skating as she does. A second Julia.

If you look at those videos and also look at the tracings that were put up, the only skater who had more ice coverage than Mao was Anna Pogo, amongst the top ladies. But then, with her, she needs alot of speed to do her jumps so it's no wonder.

Being a second Yulia is quite an honour Because Yulia's Shindler's List became iconic and Yulia - an icon. And actually it's kinda funny how many of you are trying to write some of the girls off

 

[koatcue]

I think next season will be the moment of truth for Russian women and an opportunity to prove "the puberty police" on this board wrong. There is no an age eligible junior competitive enough to challenge the current crop, so the Russian Worlds team will most likely be three of the current crop of seniors. Let's see if they can dominate the same way next year and prove the naysayers wrong.

What naysayers? Is there a doubt even?

 

[CCC]

Anna did congratulate Ashley later, after the Press Conference. It was a nice moment that few got to see. I saw it on IceNetWork.

 

[labgoat]

I can't help but comment about Radionova, what is that pink and green dress? It is like she borrows it from Polina's closet.

They ARE close in age and maturity and make similar teenage angsty choices for their themes. They are also both strong minded and full in on their choices. Imagine what they'll be like as they mature and develop. I see them as two of a kind and find them both fun young colt like girls

 

[rosy14]

Sometimes she can't handle the pressure, when she's not the "underdog". And skating by last doesn't help..Furthermore these may be her last Worlds.
.

 

[whatif]

What naysayers? Is there a doubt even?

Well according to OP, they are all about to disappear in the oblivion.

 

[MaiKatze]

I think I like Evgenia a lot better since this competition. She is amazing, and now I get why she does that thing with her hands, because she is a little bear. : I don't know what changed for me, but I absolutely think she deserves this title. Will she survive puberty? I do think so. I think she will have less problems than Julia. I watched her program in HD just now and she already has a feminine figure, even if she is still pencil thin. She is small but doesn't scream kid to me as much as others do. I wish her all the best, and hope she will do a different program next season with less backloading and less tanos. But then that was the winning strategy.

 

[CCC]

Also want to add:

Everyone needs to stop complaining about how "skater A was rude to skater B for not....blah blah blah" and everything like that. Maybe Anna didn't hug Ashley because she doesn't know her and maybe she thinks Ashley would be uncomfortable??? Anna didn't do it to be rude. This is the best moment of the careers of all the skaters on that podium and I'm sure none of them are trying to ruin it with snideness.

I do think that Anna got caught up in the moment. After the Press Conference, she did hug and congratulate Ashley. It was on Ice Network. A nice moment few got to see.

 

[Ophelia]

Yeah, that's why she got a standing ovation.

No she didn't. Maybe 1/4 standing ovation...

 

[miki88]

No she didn't. Maybe 1/4 standing ovation...

From the fancam video, it definitely looked like more than 1/4 of the audience stood up. Also, Hurrah never said she got a full one.

 

[rosy14]

I wonder whether Roberta is packaged well. In practice, she drew my eye because she was athletic and mature. That didn't come through for me in the program.

She feels the pressure, because now she's not un underdog ( in this group, I mean). Furthermore this may be her last chance to be at Worlds: Italy has only one spot, and next year Carolina Kostner is back.

 

[labgoat]

Agreed. There have been years where her skate would have taken gold. It was an unusually clean night.

This is the experience that fuels next year. Many have risen from the ashes of great disappointment to achieve their greatest success. The most dangerous skater next year is this one, the one who says I am not that skater anymore. Look for redemptive skates next year from Gracie, WeaPo, Alexa & Chris and many of the French skaters.